Ookla, the corporate that makes the ever present Speedtest.web Web pace check, has issued a brand new report evaluating Wi-Fi efficiency of Apple’s new N1 networking chip within the iPhone 17 in opposition to different Wi-Fi 7-capable telephones, together with the iPhone 16 and several other high Android telephones.
The brand new chip is a transparent winner. Not solely does it make an apparent enchancment in Wi-Fi efficiency over the Broadcom-based answer within the iPhone 16, nevertheless it catapults the iPhone 17 household to close the highest of the pack for Wi-Fi 7 suitable smartphones.
The outcomes are spectacular. Apple used a Broadcom chip for Wi-Fi networking, and whereas it provided Wi-Fi 7 assist, it wasn’t actually one of many quickest in the marketplace. The N1 modifications all that.
Ookla
In each area, Wi-Fi efficiency on the iPhone 17 household exceeds the iPhone 16 household. That is particularly notable since each chips share the identical 160 MHz channel width limitation—Apple didn’t get increased speeds by all of a sudden supporting the total 320 MHz bandwidth functionality of Wi-Fi 7.
Ookla notes that the largest enhancements over final yr’s iPhones comes within the tenth percentile—the slowest connections. Just like the C1 mobile chip, Apple appears most involved with lifting the ground for the worst connections than with chasing absolutely the high potential speeds.
Ookla
Apple’s enhancements make it evaluate much more favorably to one of the best Android telephones, globally. It doesn’t present the quickest obtain speeds, nevertheless it’s in second place now, only a hair behind the Pixel 10 Professional household. It’s an enormous soar over the iPhone 16 household.
Ookla
However the iPhone 17 line beats the Pixel 10 Professional in uplink efficiency. It’s nonetheless not high of the pack—that honor goes to the Xiaomi 15T Professional—nevertheless it’s as soon as once more in second place and, as soon as once more, properly forward of the iPhone 16 line.
Ookla
Whereas the Wi-Fi capabilities of the N1 processor within the iPhone 17 appear almost an identical to the Broadcom chip within the iPhone 16 household, it’s clear that Apple has produced a superior product. That might come all the way down to modifications in inside construction, antennas, higher hardware-software integration, or a dozen different issues; wi-fi networking is sophisticated.
Apple nonetheless has room to develop. Use of 320 MHz channels remains to be fairly uncommon, as are Wi-Fi 7 routers basically. Many nations have restricted adoption of the 6GHz frequency for Wi-Fi, too. A theoretical N2 chip can implement extra of the Wi-Fi 7 spec and see additional enhancements, along with sustaining higher connections on slower and legacy networks.
You’ll discover additional evaluation of Wi-Fi 7 succesful smartphones, and much more charts, on Ookla’s report.
